Fire-escape.



W. NOTHAPT n G. R. HARRISON. PIRE ESCAPE.

Y APPLIUATION FILED APR. 1e, 1912.

nos.

WIELLIAM NOTHAF'I AND GEORG-E J3.. I'IARISON, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. y

sinn-inserire'.

Losanna.'

, yTo all whom t may'concem Be it known thatl we, WILLAM Nori-MFT and GEORGE R. HARRISON, citizens of .the

United `States of America, and residents of the city of Philadelphia, in the State ofI Pennsylvania, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes,of

-which the' following is aspeciieation` This invention relates to rope-grip fire-escape devices', and consists in an im proved tire-escape device of that type, and

in certain novel combi-nations of parts ,em-

, specification as part'thereot.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section of the improved fire escape in use; Figs. 2 and 3 are side vie-ws projected from Fig. 1;

' Fig. It represents a cross-section on the line A-B, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 represents a cross section on the line (lvl), Fig. l.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

.Thojiiproved fire-escape device is com posed iof a pair of rope-gripping jaws, 1 and 2, of oak or other suitable Wood; a U-sliaped metallic clip, 3, adapted to embrace both jaws at one point near the upper end of the device; a clamping scrcwflL interacting with the closed end of said clip 3 and with the back of the jaw 1; a U-shaped metallic cl-ip,

5, adapted to connect the'jaws at a subjacent point, at or above midlength, a can. lever, 6, fulcrumed between the' ends of said clip 5 and interacting with the back of said jaw 2; and suitable means tor attaching the person toY the pair of jaws, represented in Figs. 1-3 by a leather strap 7 xedly attached by wood screws to one of the jaws and adapted to form a stirrup or body-embracing loop 7', and a ring, 8, attached in like manner and adapted to interlock with the lcustomary snap hook on a reinans belt, or

to be utilized in like manner. The jaws 1 and 2 are preferably and cnnveniently of one and the saine pattern and constructed .with longitudinal tace grooves fitted to the rope a, Fig. 1 which they are to irictionally I Specifization of Letters Patent.

Patented .iiy s, wie.

Application filed April 16, 191.2. l Serial No. 691,159.

grip, and internally smooth, and with backs` adapted jointly to 'form an. amply long grasping or handle portion, 1" 2, shown in section in Fig. 1, adapted to be grasped byV the left hand of a person using the device. Each otf the jaws 1 and 9. is further constructed with a pair ot side grooves, 9, in a rectangular portion titted to the legs of the screw-clamp clip 3, and with parallel slots,

10, extending through the jaws at the sides of its face groove, and fitted to the legs of the lever-clam clip 5. Said legs of the screw-clamp clip 3 are each constructed with a longitudinal slot, 11, through which a wood screw, 412, enters the jaw 1 to attach the clip thereto, and with 'an out-turned and aperturcd catch end 13 with which a catch pin, 14, fast in the jaw 9 interlocks. See F ig. 4. The legs of the lever-clamp clip 5 extending through bothjaws have aperuiredv ends, 15, between which the cam lever G is fulcrumed as aforesaid b -a removable pivot, 16.` This pivot is sliown as' a bolt with milled head and nut. It may be ot' any known or improved form, and other like modifications in mechanical details will suggest theinselves to those skilled in the art. By removing said ivot 16 and springing apart said catch ends 13 of the clip 3, the jaws l and 2 may be quickly separated to remove the device from the rope a or to admit the rope.

On' applying the devicel to the rope the jaws are sufficiently tightened by means of the screw clamp to adapt the device to suspend minimum weight, so that a child, for example, attached thereto will descend the stationary rope at a sate rate ot' speed without any cooperation on its part.' heavier person,v grasping the handle poi'- tion 1 2 with the lett hand .and manipulating the clamping lever 6 by means of the right hand, may additionally tighten the jaws upon the rope as may be required to resist excessive speed of descent. One or both feet may occupy the loop 7 ojithe strap 7 or theloop' may be enlarged to embrace the body beneath the arms; or the 'ring 8 may be utilized by a fireman in customary manner while he grasps the handle portion 1 2 m the dcvicewith onl` hand and4 assists a lady oichildwith the other. l

The wooden jaws 1 and 2 being poor con# jaws grooved to fi'jcti'onally embrace the rope between them, a U-shaped clip embracing the two j-awsncar the upper end of each of them, a clampingsorew interacting with tlievclosed end of this clip and withthe back of one of the jaws, a second U-shaped cli-p extending through the two jaws at a subjacent point, and a cani lever fulcrumed between the ends of the clip last named and interacting with the back of the other jaw;

' said jaws having a grasping portion of ample length below Said last-named clip,

'and means for attaching a person thereto.

The combination, in a rope-grip fire escape device, of a. pair of wooden jaws grooved to frictionally embrace the rope be tween them and having a rectangular. porv l l,

tion rovided .wit'h'side grooves, :iA lil-shapedv met lic cli embracing said rectan lar portion an `constructed, with legs sii ably Y fitted to said side grooves and provided with longitudinal. slots Aand catch holes, Wood screws extending through said slots into one other jaw and constructed and arranged to interlock with said catch holes, and a clamping screw interacting with the closed endY of said clip and with the back of the contiguous iaw.

'of the jaws, catch members carried by the 3. The combination, in a rope-grip firesescape device, of a pair of wooden jaws grooved to fi'ictionaiiy embrace the rope lie-l tween them and having a pair of slots ex'-A *i tending through both jaws at the sides of the rope-einbracing grooves, a U-shaped metallic clip thelegs of which extend through said slots, Aand a clamping lever having a cani end removably pivoted between the ends of said legs and adapted to interact' with the back of the' adjoining jaw, substantiallyas liei'einbefore specified.4

WiLLIAM NOTHAFT. GEORGE R. HARRISON.

lWitnesses:

Jos, M YER, MAX oLiNsKEY. 

